The Lazy Lobster of Longboat is a hidden gem tucked into the same stretch of upper Longboat Key as Euphemia Haye and Harry’s Continental. While this bistro might not get as much attention as those two iconic fine-dining eateries, Savor Sarasota offers the perfect opportunity to discover what you’ve been missing at this charming, casual spot with a decidedly upscale dining ethos.
Michael Garey and Bob Fracalossy opened The Lazy Lobster in the fall of 2009—not exactly a great time to start a business, as the banking crisis was in full swing. Its survival after having been hatched into the Great Recession is a testament to the Lobster’s high-quality fare. Fracalossy and Garey’s relationship dates back to 1979 at Café L’Europe on St. Armand’s Circle, where Bob was the butcher, and Michael bussed tables.
In 1994, Garey and Fracalossy opened the original Café on the Bay at the Moorings Marina for the restaurateurs behind Café L’Europe. In 2013, the duo opened Kacey’s Seafood & More in Sarasota, which has since opened a second location. A graduate of Manatee Technical Institute’s Culinary Arts program, Executive Chef Sebastian Villaseca cut his teeth down the road at Euphemia Haye, before finally getting his first executive Chef gig at Kacey’s, where Garey began mentoring him…